UK obesity costs NHS £5.1 billion per year but overall the figure is closer to £ 16bn

A report says obesity can affect a person’s ability to work and their underlying mental health

Obesity costs the United Kingdom National Health Service, NHS £5.1 billion per year, according to latest estimates. But National Audit Office (NAO) figures suggest obesity is not solely a burden on the NHS.

It can affect a person’s ability to work and their underlying mental health, the NAO said in a 2012 report. Premature deaths caused by obesity lead to the annual loss of around 45,000 years of working life, it added.

Meanwhile, sickness absence caused by obesity is estimated at between 15.5 million and 16 million days per year.

Obese people are also much less likely to be in employment than those of healthy weight, with associated welfare costs estimated at between £1 billion and £6 billion.

The total cost to the economy of being overweight or obese has been estimated as some £16 billion in 2007, rising to £50 billion per year by 2050 if left unchecked.

Top Comments

Damn the burger & beer looks good.... The fatty boy should at least do 5 hours of exercise per week it’s not that much when you come to think about it. IMO public healthcare services in the future should require a minimum amount of exercise done according to the ability of each patient per month for enabling to get treatment for free for obesity related illnesses.... As always I have the solution for everything.

Feb 05th, 2014 - 11:25 pm 0

nololly

And, the fattest town is….. Dunoon. Mr Blobby has been spotted there blowing bagpipes…

Feb 05th, 2014 - 11:27 pm 0

A_Voice

2
Are you my fan club or stalker...?
I have negligible fat...but plenty of muscle...if that's your.. thing